1945 through 1960s

1945Maxwell House Instant Coffee, which has been supplying grounds to the U.S. military since 1942, starts hitting grocery store shelves. By 1952, instant coffee accounts for 17 percent of all U.S. coffee consumption, says Pendergrast. Later, Maxwell House advertises coarse grinds for percolators, medium for drip, and finer for vacuum.

1958Bodum’s Santos vacuum coffee maker heats water in a lower chamber, creating vapor pressure that forces boiling water up to a second chamber to mix with coffee grinds. The result: no more overcooked coffee — and a fun way to view the process through glass.

1960sAmericans watch a classic Maxwell House ad, starring none other than a percolator, despite being “a terrible way to make coffee,” adds Pendergrast. When the water heats high enough, it perks up through the tube, repeatedly spraying coffee back over the grounds.

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